Machine for edge-coating and bending sheet material



MACHINE Fok EDGE-comme Ann BENDING simmummm original Filed June 15, 194e Aug. 28, 1951 w. R WRIGHT "I Sheets-Sheet 1 QN .NWN

kamm mm ME IN VENTOR.

BY WLL mM R. Wiz/@Hf rozwlnf Aug. 28, 1951 w. R. WRIGHT MACHINE FOR EDGE-comms AND' smznmc smh' MATERIAL original Filed una 1s, 194s 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 HTTORNEI/ Aug. 2,8, 1951 w. n. WRIGHT MACHINE FOR EDGE-COATING AND BENDNG SHEET MATERIAL v shuts-sheet s original Filed June 15,v 194s IN VEN TOR.

ATTOKNEY w. R WRIGHT 2,565,152 MACHINE FOR EDGE-COATING AND BENDING SHEET MATERIAL Aug. 2s, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 15, 1948 JNVENToR.

@um mmm m im? w LIQ mmv ATTOENEF Aug. 28, 1951 w. R. wRlGH-r MACHINE FOR EDGE-COATING AND BENDING SHEET MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 15. 1948 r Jr Wmv Aug. 28, 1951 w, R, WRIGHT 2,56,52

MACHINE FOR EDGE-COATING AND BENDING SHEET MATERIAL Qrignal Filed June 15, 1948 '7 Shoots-Sheet 6 251 v50 a 'G 58 346 348 INVHVTOR.

fwd/aufm Army/Vey Aug. 28, 1951 w. R. WRIGHT MACHINE FOR EDGE-COATING AND BENDING SHEET MATERIAL 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed June 15. 1948 w 6 z a M 0 0 ..-I 2 3 a E. 0 l l' m 5 e 4 n 8 9 3 a c 3 i m w 3 .a l l 3 I fn 6 6 I f L 8 33 78 8 88 l Z 3 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug..28,v 1951 l MACHINE FORr EDGE-COATING AND BENDINGTV SHEET MATERIAL .William R.

Bird & Son, Inc.,

wright, Dedham, Mase.. signor to East Walpole, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts `(iriginal application June 15,

1948. Serial N0.

Divided and this application August 18, 1949, Serial N0. 111,006

25 Claims. (Cl. 154-13) V 'I'he present invention relates to apparatus for coating opposite edges of flat blanks oi' sheet material and for forming such blanks into angular shape. The invention is particularly useful in forming building siding corner pieces from flat blanks of fibrous` cellulosic stockv impregnated with a'thermoplastic material and will be further disclosed herein by reference to the manufacture of such units.

These corner pieces are applied outside the sheathing of Va building at the corners, to form. in association with impregnated and grit-coated fiat siding units, the exterior surface of the building. Such corner units have been manufactured from flat blanks which are formed by cutting them from larger sheet material which has been impregnated and then grit-coated on one face. In the past the corner pieces have been manufactured from such blanks primarily by a series of hand operations, which method of manufacture is time-consuming and costly.

An object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus by which flat sheet blanks of a material capable of being softenedby heat may be automatically and rapidly bent into angular shape.

A further object is to provide an apparatus by which ilat sheet blanks may` be coated on opposite edges with an adhesive material, and thereafter coated with a loose granular grit to provide a level, water-proof grit coating, and in which suchoperations may be performed continuously and automatically on a series of the blanks at low cost.

A further object is to` provide an apparat-us by which loose granular grit may be automatically applied to opposed edges of a traveling ribbon of flat sheet blanks.

Another object is to provide an apparatus by which fiat sheet blanks of fibrous cellulosic 'material impregnated with a thermoplastic matcrial, grit-coated on one flat face and shiplapped vat their opposite ends. may be continuously grit-` coated on their lateral edges and bent into angular shape to provide a `building sliding corner unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as it is better understood from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment shown in the a ccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figs. 1 and 1a together are a plan view of the entire machine;

Fig. 2 illustrates schematically the series of operations performed by my machine;

Fig. 2a is a diagram showing the relationship diagramma-tic 2 in which the sheets containing Figs` 3. 4, Figs. 5. 6, Figs. 7, 8 and Figs. 9. 10 are to be placed to show the entire machine of Fig. l.

Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 9 when placed end to end in the relationship shown in Fig. 2a form a plan view of the entire machine of Fig. 1.

Figs 4. 6, 8 and 10 similarly form a side elevation of the machine of Figs. 3. 5, 7- and 9:

Fig. 1l is a vertical transverse sectional view on` the line Il,-II of Fig. 5: A

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section on the line I2--I2 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a vertical the line I3-i3 of Fig. 7, showing the grit em bedding and leveling rolls;

Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line ii-il of Fig. 7;

Fig. 15 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 16and 17 are vertical transverse sectional views illustrating the bending apparatus and taken respectively on the lines IB-IB and I'l-ll of Fig. 10; and,

Fig. 18 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of the structure shown at the left of Fig. 10.

The apparatus of this invention is useful generally for bending and for coating opposed edges of flat sheet materials which are capable of being softened by the application of heat. The particular machine disclosed in the drawing has been designed for converting flat sheet 4blanks into building siding corner units, and includes structural details peculiar to this particular application.

Referring to Fig. 2, such a blank is shown at 2. The blank in this instance is notched at opposite ends to form shiplaps 4 and B, is made of a fibrous cellulosic material impregnated with a thermoplastic material. such as an asphalt. and has been coated with granular grit on it. flat face 3 which faces upward in Fig. `2. The shiplaps il and 6 in the completed corner piece when applied to a building cooperate with the shiplaps in adjacent corner pieces to form a weather-tight, mechanically strong joint. The lateral edges 8, only one of which can be seen in Fig. 2, are not coated with grit and are in the raw condition resulting from cutting of the blank 2 from a larger strip. The lower face i2 of the blank likewise is f ree from grit coating.

Broadly, my machine provides mechanism for feeding a series of such blanks 2 in succession from a magazine in such a way as to form a con tinuous ribbon of blanks in which adjacent blanks transverse section taken on are interengaged at the shiplap notches in each.

The ribbon of blanks is moved continuously past Y into the completed corner unit shown at I4 in F18. 2. The first such operation involves the cutting of a V-shaped groove |6 in the lower face I2 of the blank, along the longitudinal mid-line of the blank. Thereafter, the opposed lateral edges 8 of the blanks are coated with an adhesive material, such as a thermoplastic material, e. g. a bituminous material. as indicated at I8, and then Athese coated edges are covered withl loose granular grit 28, which is held in place on the blank by becoming embedded in and adhered to the coating.

At another station. preferably but not necessarily following the grit coating station, the groove i6 is coated with an adhesive material. such as a thermoplastic material, e. g., a bituminous material,l to form a coating 22 on the surfaces of the groove. Thereafter, the blanks are separated so that the adjacent ends of successive blanks in the ribbon are disengaged, the blanks are heated adjacent the grooves i6 and are then bent to close the groove and unite its surfaces by means of the adhesive coating material 22. Finally, the blanks are cooled, preferably while they are held in bent condition to prevent loss of shape. to form the completed corner unit i8.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 1a, in which the apparatus is shown schematically. it will be seen `that the arrangement of the various units of the apparatus follows generally the described sequence of steps. From a magazine at 24 the blanks are fed individually, grit-coated face upwardly, between a pair of feed rolls 26, so that each blank is interengaged at its leading edge with the preceding blank. Thereafter, the blanks, in a continuous ribbon. pass through a grooving station 28 in which a pair of angularly-disposed saws 29, 38 cut the V-shaped groove I6 in the lower face of the blank. On leaving the grooving station the blanks pass through a second pair of feed rolls 82 and into the grit-applying station in which pairs of coating disks 36, 38 apply a thin penetrative adhesive coating and a similar pair of coating disks 48 applies a more viscous adhesive coating to the opposite lateral edges 8 of the blanks. The grit is then placed on the coated edges by a rotary mechanism 42 and any loose grit is removed from the blanks at 44 and returned for re-use. Thereafter, the grit is leveled and embedded by a series of edge pressing rollers 46 engaging the lateral edges of the blanks and by rollers 48 engaging the top and bottom fiat surfaces of the blank.

At a' succeeding station the 'V-groove I6 is coated with a thin penetrative adhesive material by a coating wheel 58. The blanks next travel beneath a gas flame at for a considerable distance so that the penetrative coating is absorbed y and the material of the blank adjacent the groove I8 is softened. A second coating of adhesive material is applied to the groove by a coating wheel 82.

The blanks arethen grasped between the opposed flights of a pair of horizontal belts 84 (Fig.

I8 into the angular shape shown at I4 in Fig. 2. On leaving this bending unit the blanks are received on a continuous delivery conveyor 58 from which they may be lifted manually and packed into shipping containers. Preferably the 4 conveyor 58 includes means for holding the blanks la) .by which they are advanced individually at a. slightly increased speed so that they are separated from each other. The blanks are grasped and held by belts 54 onone side only of the groove I6 and while so held are further heated. to cause the unsupported side of the blank to sag in bent shape to assure that they will not lose shape before they have cooled.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 18, the illustrative machine shown in the drawings will now be described in detail.

The magazine 24 for holding a stack of ilat blanks 2 (Figs. 3 and 4l. is formed by four vertical standards 88. 52. 64 and 66 and a vertical fiat plate 68 supported by longitudinal angle-iron frame members 81, B9 forming part of the main frame of the machine. The frame members B1. 89 are supported from the oor by any suitable number and arrangement of angle-iron legs 18. Stacks of blanks may be supplied to the magaaine by hand. The blanks in the magazine are engaged at their forward edges by the plate 68 which prevents forward movement ofall of the blanks in the magazine except the lowermost blank. The lowermost blank rests on a series of rotatable rollers "5|, supported from the main frame on angles if?, 'i3 in which they are journaled.

The blanks are fed individually from the bottom of the stack of blanks by a reciprocating feeder carriage 14 whose upper surface is approximately at the same elevation as the uppermost parts of rollers 1|. The feeder carriage carries on its upper surface a transverse pusher bar 15, which extends upwardly from the surface a distance less than the thickness of a blank so that the pusher bar engages the lowermost blank at each forward stroke of the carriage and ejects it from the magazine. The feeder carriage is reciprocated by a crank disk 16 on shaft |82, to the crank pin 18 of which it is connected by a connecting rod 88. The stroke of the feeder carriage 14 may be. and preferably is, slightly greater than the length of a. blank to assure tight engagement of each blank with the preceding blank notwithstanding .slight differences in the lengths of the blanks.

The main drive shaft 82 of the machine is supported in a pair of bearings 88, 88 on longitudinal frame members 61, 68 and further supported at its outboard end in a bearing 94 mounted on a standard 88. The drive shaft 82 is driven from an electric motor or other source of power (not shown) through a chain 88 and a sprocket |88. From this main drive shaft 82 the mechanism at the various stations is driven through chain drives to be described.

The shaft |82 on which the crank disk 1B is mounted is driven from the drive shaft 82 by means of a sprocket |84 on the drive shaft. a sprocket |88 on shaft |82 and a chain |88 connecting the sprockets. The sprocket |86 is connected to shaft |82 through a spring-loaded slip clutch H8. Any slippage required by the fact that the stroke of the feeder carriage 14 is slightly greater than the length of the blanks is provided by this slip clutch.

From the magazine, the blanks pass into the first feed roll pair 28. which comprises the upper and lower rolls ||2, ||4 journaled on the frame members 81, 68. The feed rolls 28, in cooperation with the second set of feed rolls 82, serve to move the entire ribbon of blanks through the various work stations of the apparatus. I 'I'hese feed'rolls and bend the blank about the apex of the groove are positively driven from the main drive shaft 82 by a spur gear H6 on the drive shaft and a spur gear H8 on the shaft of the lower feed roll |I4. The upper roll ||2 is mounted in a conventional way for vertical adjustment by means of a hand wheel ||5 and is resiliently urged toward the lower roll ||4 by compression springs I1, IIS.

From the first set of feed rolls. the ribbon of blanks passes int-o the grooving station 28 where the pair of angularly-disposed cutting disks 29. 30 out the groove I6 in its lower face. During this operation the blanks slide over the fiat surface of a plate |20 against which they are held by a pair of free rollers |22. |24 supported respectively on shafts |26, |28 above the plate |20. The blanks are guided laterally by a series of rollers |30, |32, on opposite sides of the blanks. which are journaled on vertical pins |34 extending upwardly from plate |20. The cutting disk Y 29, which may be a toothed saw, is carried on the shaft of a motor |38 mounted on a transverse frame member |40 connected between the main frame members 61, 69 of the machine. The saw 29 is inclined at an angle of about 45 to the vertical and extends through a slot |42 in the plate |20 for a sufiicient distance to cut the notch to the depth desired. The other side of the notch is cut by a saw 30 which is similar to the saw 29 in its mounting and function and is driven by a motor |46. The two saws together pene-V trate the blanks to a line which forms the apex of the groove so that the material of the blank between the cuts made by the saws is-severed from and falls out of the blank.

On leaving the grooving station 20, the blanks are received on a trackway formed by a pair of spaced angles |48. |50 supported on the main frame of the machine, with one-leg disposed vertically, and spaced a distance slightly less than the width of the blanks. Each blank slides on these angles and is pushed by the following blanks into the second pair of feed rolls 32 (Figs.

verse overhead shaft |92, supported from the frame in fixed bearings |94, |96. The shaft |92 carries a sprocket |98 which is driven through a chain 200 from the sprocket 202 on. the main drive shaft 82. The coating disk |`|4 is supported and driven in a manner similar to disk |16.

5 and 6). The upper-roll |52 of this pair is urged downwardly toward the lower roll |54 by means of springs |56, |58 and may be vertically adjusted by means of a hand wheel |60. The drive for rolls |52, |64 is derived..frcm .the shaft of'- feed roll ||4 by'means of a.sprocket |68 on the latter and a chain |10 driving the sprocket |12 on the shaft of feed roll |54. The two setsvoffeed rolls are thus timed to rotate at the same speed. determined by the speed of main drive shaft 62 and the relative H6. 8. c Y

From the feed rolls 32 the blanks continue along angles |48, |50 into accating station in which fluid adhesive material, .such as a bituminous material, is applied to thcopppsite lateral edges of the blanks by the pairs of coating disks 36, I8 and 40. The blanksaarernow additionally supported by a triangular rail |13 (Figs. 5, 6 and 11) engaging groove |6 in-'the lower face of the blanks and thus maintaining the blanks in proper position laterally of the apparatus. Rotary coating disks |14, |16 forming the first pair, 35, and a similar set of disks |18, |80 forming the second pair 38, are provided for applying the .fluid material to the edges ofthe blanks from a pan |82 supported on the main longitudinal frame members 90, 92. Since these pairs of disks are substantially identical, only one pair will be described in detaik The disk |16 is mounted on a shaft |84 which is supported for rotation in bearings |86 carried on the main frame. The upper end of the shaft |84 carries a bevel gear |88 which meshes with abevel gear |90 on a transsizes-of the spur gears.

4ried by a transverse frame member 245.

It will be observed that the disks |14. |16, |18 and have beveled edges 204. The disks are inclined at such an angle that these beveled edges lie vertical at their line of contact with the edges of the blanks, and so that the opposite edges of the disks are immersed in the liquid material 205 in the pan |82. The material 205 is heated to maintain its fluidity by a gas burner 206. The second set of coating disks |18, 80 is driven from the first set by a pair of sprockets 2081, 2|0, and a chain 2 |2.

The blanks next pass between the pair 40 of inclined coating disks 2|4, 2|6, which apply a more viscous adhesive coating, such as a more viscous bituminous material, to their lateral edges from a. pan 2|8 in which the material is maintained at a suitable consistency by a gas burner 220. Disks 2|4. 2|8, are similar to the disks |18. |80 and are driven from the latter through a drive chain 222 and sprockets 224, 226. For coating .building siding corner units, all of these coating disks may revolve in the same direction as and at a surface speed of approximately twice the linear speed of the blanks.

The blanks are next treated to apply loose granular grit to their lateral coated edges to cause this grit to be secured to the blanks by the coating material. During this operation the blanks remain in motion on the angles |48, |50 and rail |13. The grit is applied by means of a pair of rotary disks 228. 230 disposed below and on opposite sides of the path of travel of the blanks. The disk 228 comprises a fiat plate 252 having an upstanding marginal rim 234 at its periphery. On the upper surface of plate 232 is a cylindrical hub 236 having a frusto-conical upper surface 238. The hub and disk are supported on a shaft 240 rotating in a bearing 242 carried by a transverse channel 244, and bearing 243 (Fig. 12) car- The transverse channel 244 is disposed with. its back downwardly and is supported from the main frame members 90, 82 at its opposite ends. A transverse shaft 246 journaled in bearings 248. 250 and 26| carried by the channel 244 is driven from the drive shaft of the pair of coating disks ..40 by means of sprockets 252, 254 and a connecting chain 256. This transverse shaft carries a pair of bevel gears 250, 260 which mesh with bevel gears 262, 264 on the vertical shafts 240i, 24| respectively to drive the latter and the grit applying disks 228, 230. The loose granular grit is fed to disks 228, 230 by vertical supply pipes 266, 260 so that loose grit piles up on each wheel within rim 234 and over the cylindrical frusto-conical surfaces of the hubs. as shown in Fig. l2. The disks 228, 230 are disposed in close proximity to the path of travel of the blanks with the plates and rims beneath and overlapping the path oi' travel and the hubs adjacent to but spaced from the blanks.

The grit which piles up on the disks in loose condition is picked up by the coated edges of the blanks and adhered thereto. Grit is supplied to the disks at such a rate that an excess is continually falling from the edges of the disks. This excess is guided by a chute 210 on to a transverse conveyor 212 which returns it for re-use in feeding supply pipes 266, 268.

. A vacuum nozzle 214 having its open lower end disposed immediately above the blanks as they leave the grit-applying disks serves tov pick up any loose grit carried along by the blanks. The

nozzle 214 discharges into the supply bin (not.`

shown) for the supply pipes 266, 268.

As the blanks leave the grit coating station their coated lateral edges 8 are engaged by the edge pressing rollers 46 which level and embed the grit coating. This set of rollers comprises four rollers 216, 218, 288, 282 (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8) mounted on auxiliary longitudinal frame members 284, 286. The mounting for each roller is similar to that of roller 216 which comprises a link 288 pivoted on a vertical pin 288 on frame member 288 and carrying at its outer end the shaft 282 for the roller. The link 288 is urged inwardly by a coil spring 284 anchored at 281 to the link 288 and similarly anchored at its opposite end to the link which carries roll 282. The four rollers of this set are freely rotatableon their journals and roll on the rough surface of the grit coating.

On leaving the roll set 46 the blanks are engaged on their upper and lower surfaces adjacent their lateral edges by the set of rolls 48 which serve further to level and embed the grit coating. The upper rolls of this set 295, 286 (Fig. 13), are journaled on axles 288, 388respectively which in turn are pivoted at 382, 384 on vertically adjustable blocks 386, 388 mounted on guideways 318, 312. The axles 288, 388 pivot freely about the pivots 382, 384 so that the rollers 285, 288 rest on the upper surface of the traveling blanks primarily under their own weight; Beneath the rollers 285, 288 the edges of the blanks are supported by driven rolls 314, 316 mounted on a common shaft 318 which is journaled at each end on the auxiliary longitudinal frame members 284, 288. These rolls are driven from the main drive shaft 82 through a sprocket 328 on the latter, a chain 322, a sprocket 324 on a counter shaft 326, and a pair of spur gears 328 and 338 connecting the countershaft to the shaft 318. Preferably the rolls 314, 316 rotate at the same surface speed as the blanks.

The trackway angles 148, 158 terminate upon reaching the set of rollers 48 and the blanks thereafter are carried on a pair of channel members 331, 332 disposed `with their backs downwardly and supported on auxiliary frame members 334, 336 formed by angle irons, The triangular rail 113 terminates a short distance beyond the rolls 48.

The blanks next pass above the coating wheel 58 which applies liquid adhesive material to the grooves 18 in the bottom faces of the blanks. The adhesive may be a' thermoplastic material such as a bituminous material contained in a pan 338 which is heated by a gas burner 348. The wheel 58 is journaled on a transverse shaft 342 supported in bearings 344, 346- and driven from shaft 318 by means of a sprocket 348 on the latter, a sprocket 358 and connecting chain 352. The wheel 58 is of such a diameter and is so positioned vertically that its lower edge is immersed in the pan 338 and its upper edge engages in the groove 16. The blank'is engaged from above by a pair of freely rotatable rollers 354, 356 journaled in arms 358, 358 pivoted on a transverse support 388 whereby proper contact between the blank and the coating wheel 58 lis maintained. The material contained in pan 338 is a relatively fluid material capable of penetrating the fibrous stock of the blanks.

Duringl the' coating operation and for a considerable period thereafter the upper surfaces of the blanks are heated adjacent the groove 18 by gas flames directed from a. burner362 disposed immediately above the path of travel of the blanks, which heating assures adequate penetration of the coating material into the blank and softens the blanks preliminary to the bending operation.

The grooves 16 are next coated with a relatively more viscous adhesive material 381, which may be a bituminous material, from pan 363 by a coating wheel 52 similar to the wheel 58 and driven from the shaft of the latter through sprockets 364, 388 and the chain 368. During this coating step the upper surface of the blank is engaged by a roller 318 carried on a shaft 312 which is journaled in rigidly mounted bearings 314, 316`so that the blanks are positively engaged between the coating wheel 52 and the roller 318. Lateral alignment oi.' the blanks with wheel 52 is maintained by a series of rollers 318 at one side of the blank in cooperation with a similar series of rollers 388 at the opposite side of the blank. The desired viscosity of the material 361 is maintained by a gas burner 382. 'I'he supporting channel members331, 332 terminate a short distance beyond the coating wheel 52 but continue to support the Vblanks while they are engaged between the coating wheel 52 and the roller 318.

After the blanks pass out of engagement with the roller 318 they are grapsed by a pair of horizontal belts 384, 388 whose adjacent nights travel in the same direction as the blanks. The upper belt 384 is trained about a. pair of pulleys 388, 388 and the lower belt 388 trained about a pair of pulleys 382, 384. Pulley388 is carried on a shaft 385 journaled in bearings 386, 388 carried by vertical standards 488, 481 which rise from longitudinal frame members 482, 484 and are joined at their upper ends by a transverse channel member 488. Pulley 382 is similarly supported.

rPulleys 388 and 384 are mounted for adjustment toward and away from pulleys 388, 382 respectively by means of bearing blocks-488, 418 slidable in ways 412, 414 and are urged away from their companion pulleys by threaded adjusting rods 418, 418. These pulley mountings are carried on a pair of vertical standards 428, 422 supported on the longitudinal frame members 482, 484.

The lower flight of belt 384 is supported against upward movement by a series of individually suspended ball-bearing rollers 424. The upper flight of the lower belt 386 is supported on a horizontal plate 428. The belts are driven from the shaft of coating wheel 52 through a sprocket 428, a chain 438, and a sprocket 432 on the shaft of pulley 382 and at such a speed that each blank as it is grasped between the belts is drawn out of engagement with the following blank, which is still held between roller 318 and the coating wheel 52. Thereafter the blanks travel through the machine individually, separated by a short interval, which may be about 2 inches in length. During the first part of their travel between the belts 384, 388 the blanks are additionally heated by the flames from a gas burner 434. As a result of this heating, the blank is so softened in the region adjacent the groove 18 that the outer part of the blank which is not supported by the belts (Fig. 15) begins to sag, causing the blank to bend (Fig. 16) and close the groove I8 (Fig. 17). A guide rail 438 supported on a bracket 438 may be provided to support the free portion of the blank against too rapid downward movement under its own weight. A nozzle 440 is positioned so as to direct a blast of air at room temperature against the blank as it leaves the region heated by the gas burner 434, and after the bending operation on the blank has begun. This -air blast provides means ior controlling the softness of the blank during bending and may be required only in warm weather.

An additional guide rail 442 positioned to engage the upper surface of the unsupported edge of the blank is provided for assuring thatall of the blanks will be bent to the desired shape. The guide rail 442 is so curved that as the blank passes out of engagement with it the portion of the blank extending outwardly from the belt is substantially vertical and in position to be engaged by a series of rollers 444 so disposed as to hold the blank against a straight rail 446 with the portions of the blank on opposite sides of the groove at a right angle to each other and with the groove closed.

On leaving the belts 384, 386 the blanks are delivered to the belt conveyor 56 driven from the shaft of pulley 394 by sprockets 448, d and chain 452. The conveyor 56 carries a series of clips "454 having upstanding ends 456 spaced the proper distance to engage the blanks as shown in Fig. 18 and hold them in the desired bent position so that they can not sag before they have thoroughly hardened by cooling. The completed corner pieces may be lifted from the conveyor 56 by hand and placed directly into shipping containers.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 33,103 led June 15, 1948.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for forming fiat sheet blanks into angular shape which` comprises a feeding mechanism for feeding individual blanks continuously vthrough the apparatus, cutting mechanism for forming a V-shaped groove in one flat face of said blanks. coating means for applying an adhesive material to said V-shaped groove, means for supporting the blanks on one side only of said groove and means for heating the blanks blanks, means for coating said lll-shaped groove.

ymean-s for separating the blanks in the ribbon.

means for heating said blanks, means for supporting said separated and heated blanks on one side only of said groove whereby they bend to close the groove, and means for holding the bent blanks in bent condition with the groove closed until the blanks have cooled. 4. Anapparatus for forming flat sheet blanks into angular shape which comprises a feeding mechanism for feeding individual blanks from a magazine into a continuous ribbon of blanks, driving means for moving said ribbon of blanks continuously through the apparatus, cutting mechanism for forming a V-shaped groove in one fiat face of said blanks, means for coating said V-shaped groove, means for supporting said blanks on one side only of said groove, means for eating the blanks in the region of said groove. and a curved guide rail below the unsupported side of the blanks.

5. An apparatus for forming flat sheet blanks into angular shape which comprises a feeding while so supported, whereby said blanks bend along said groove to close the groove and adhesively unite the surface of the groove by said adhesive material.

2. An apparatus for forming dat sheet material into angular shape which comprises means for feeding individual blanks of such material into a continuous ribbon of blanks with 'successive blanks in engagement, driving means for moving said ribbon of blanks continuously through the apparatus, a pair of rotary angularly-related slitting disks disposed adjacent the path of travel of said ribbon and engaging said blanks to cut a v-shaped groove in one fiat face of said blanks. means for'coating said V-shaped groove, means for separating the blanks in the ribbon, means for supporting the blanks on one side only of said groove, and means for heating the blanks while so supported whereby said blanks bend along said groove to close the groove.

3. An apparatus for forming flat sheet material into angular shape which comprises means for feeding individual blanks of such material into a continuous ribbon o1' blanks with successive blanks in engagement, driving means for movingr said ribbon of blanks continuously through the apparatus, a pair of rotary angularly-related slitting disks disposed adjacent the path of travel of said ribbon and engaging said blanks to cut a V-shaped groove in one nat surface ofsaid of said mechanism for feeding individual blanks from a magazine into a continuous ribbon of blanks. driving means for moving said ribbon .of blanks continuously through the apparatus, cutting mechanism for forming a V-shaped groove in one fiat face of said blanks, coating means for applying an adhesive material to said V-shaped groove, means for heating the blanks, means for supporting the heated blanks on one side only of said groove whereby the blanks bend about said groove to close the groove, and a curved guide rail abovethe unsupported side of the blanks.

6. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to an adhesive-covered edge of a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank, a shaft coaxial with said disk for -supporting and rotating the disk, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface disk and means for rotating said shaft.

'1. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to an adhesive-covered edge of a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises extending upwardly from said disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk and means for rotating said disk.

i 8. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to an adhesive-covered edge of a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank, an upstanding peripheral rim on said disk, a cylindrical hub of smaller diameter than said disk extending upwardly from said disk above said rim and above the path of travel of the blanks with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk and means for rot-ating said disk.

9. Mechanism for .applying loose granular material to a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises means for coating an edge of the traveling blank, a rotatable disk disposed immedil1 ateLv below-and overlapping the path of travel of the blank, and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface ot said disk and means for rotating said disk.

10. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises means for coating an edge of the trav eling blank, a rotatable disk disposed below and overlapping the path of travel of the blank and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank, a hub of smaller diameter than said disk extending upwardly'from said disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk and means for rotating said disk with its side adjacent the blank vtraveling in the same direction as the blank.

ll. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises means for coating an edge of the traveling blank, a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and overlapping the path of travel of the blank and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank, an upstanding rim on said disk, a cylindrical hub of smaller diameter than said disk extending upwardly from said disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk and means for rotating said disk with its side adjacent the blank traveling in the same direction as the blank.

l2. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to opposed edges or a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises means for coating said opposed edges with an adhesive material, a pair of rotatable disks each disposed immediately below and overlapping the path of travel of the coated blank, one disk having its axis on one side and the other disk having its axis on the other side of the path of travel of the blank, each of said disks having an upstanding peripheral rim and a cylindrical hub of smaller diameter than the disk extending upwardly from the disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surfaces of said disks and means for rotating said disks.

13. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to an adhesive covered edge of a traveling blank of sheet material which comprises a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and overlapping the path of travel of the coated blank and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank, said disk having a cylindrical hub of smaller diameter than the disk extending upwardly from the disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blank, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk, means for rotating said disk, and a rollerengaging the edge of the blank after it has passed by said disk for embedding and leveling grit applied to said edge by the disk.

14. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to an edge of a traveling hat blank of sheet material which comprises means for coating said edge with an adhesive material, a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and overlapping the path of travel of the coated blank and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blank. said disk having an upstanding peripheral rim, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk,

means for rotating said disk, and a roller engaging the edge of the blank after it has passed by said disk for embedding and leveling grit applied to said edge by the disk. 15. Mechanism for applying loose granular material to opposed edges of traveling flat blanks of sheet material which comprises means for coating said opposed edges with an adhesive material, a pair of rotatable disks each disposed immediately below and overlapping the path of( travel of the coated blanks and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of the blanks, each of said disks having an upstanding rim and a cylindrical hub of smaller diameter than the disk extending upwardly from the disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the blanl, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surfaces of said disks, means for rotating said disks, rollers engaging the edges and rollers engaging the fiat surfaces of the blanks after they have passed by said disks for embedding and leveling grit applied thereto by said disks.

16. Apparatus for forming a blank of flat sheet stock into angular shape which comprises a pair of belts having opposed horizontal flights engaging a part only of the opposite flat faces of said blanks, andmeans for heating the blank whereby said heated blank bends under its own weight so that the portion of the blank not engaged by the belt lies at an inclination to the portion of the blank engaged by the belt.

17. Apparatus for forming angular building siding corner units from blanks of fiat sheet brous stock impregnated with a thermoplastic material which comprises means for moving said blanks through the apparatus, means for forming a V-shaped groove in one of the flat surfaces of said traveling blanks, means for heating the traveling blanks adjacent said groove, and a pair of belts having opposed horizontal flights engaging said traveling heated blanks entirely to one side of said groove whereby said heated blanks bend about said groove under their own weight so that the portion of the blank on one side of the groove lies at an inclination to the portion on the other side of the groove.

18. Apparatus for forming angular building siding corner units from blanks of ilat sheet fibrous stock impregnated with a thermoplastic material which comprises means for moving said blanks in a continuous ribbon with successive blanks in engagement, means for forming a Vshaped groove in the under at surfaces of said traveling blanks, means for coating said groove with an adhesive material, means for heating the traveling blanks adjacent said groove, means for separating successive blanks while maintaining the blanks in motion, and a pair of belts having opposed horizontal flights engaging the opposite flat faces of said traveling heated blanks entirely on one side of said groove whereby said heated blanks bend under their own weight so that said groove is closed and sealed by said adhesive material with the portion of `the blank on one side of the groove lying at an inclination to the portion of the blank on the other side of the groove.

19. Apparatus for forming angular building siding corner units from blanks lof flat sheet fibrous stock impregnated with a thermoplastic material which comprises means for feeding said blanks into a continuous ribbon, driving means for continuously moving said ribbon through the apparatus, means for forming a V-shaped groove 13 in the under surface'of said traveling blanks, means for heating the traveling blanks adjacent said groove, means for separating successive blanks in the ribbon while maintaining the blanks in motion, a pair of belts having opposed horizontal flights engaging the opposite fiat faces oi' said traveling Aheated blanks entirely on one side oil said groove, and a curved rail engaging the portion oi' said traveling blanks on the other side of the groove for guiding said portion into a position at an inclination to the portion of the blanks engaged by said belts.

20. Apparatus for coating an-edge of` blanks of flat sheet material with loose granular grit which comprises means for feeding such blanks end-toeiid iii a continuous ribbon, means for coating an edge of said traveling ribbon of blanks with an adhesive material comprising a rotatable disk having a beveled edge disposed for rotation in a plane inclined to tiie plane of said ribbon with its beveled edge at one side of the disk positioned to engage the edge of the blanks in said ribbon and its beveled edge at the opposite side oi' the disk immersed in the adhesive material, a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and overlapping the path of travel of said coated blanks with its axis to one side of such path of travel, a cylindrical hub of smaller diameter than said disk extending upwardly from said disk with its peripheral surface adjacent to but spaced from the edge of the traveling ribbon of blanks, means for supplying loose granular material to the upper surface of said disk, and means for rotating said disk, whereby loose granular material is applied to said coated edge.

2l. An apparatus for forming building siding angular corner pieces from flat sheet blanks of impregnated fibrous stock grit-coated on one fiat face, which comprises means for feeding such individual blanks into a continuous ribbon of blanks with successive blanks in engagement. driving means for moving said ribbon of blanks continuously through the apparatus, means for cutting a V-shaped groovein one flat surface of said blanks, coating mechanism for coating both lateral edges of the blanks in said ribbon, a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of said blanks, means for rotating said disk with its edge adjacent the blanks traveling in the same direction as the blanks, means for feeding loose granular grit to the upper surface of said disk. rollers engaging said blanks for embedding and leveling grit applied thereto from said disk, means for coating said V-shaped groove, means for supporting said blanks on one side only of said groove and means for simultaneously heating said blanks along said groove whereby the blanks bend to close the groove.

22. An apparatus for forming building siding angular corner pieces from nat sheet blanks of impregnated fibrous stock which comprises means for feeding individual blanks into a continuous ribbon of blanks with successive blanks in engagement, driving means for moving said ribbon of blanks continuously through the apparatus, means for cutting a. v-shaped groove in one flat surface of said blanks, mechanism for coating both lateral edges of the blanks in said ribbon, arotatable disk disposed immediately below and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of said blanks, means for rotating said disk with its edge adjacent the blanks traveling in the same direction as the blanks, means for feeding loose granular grit to the upper surface of said disk,

awaits rollers engaging said blanks for embedding and leveling grit applied thereto from said disk, a rotary beveled-edge disk engaging said groove for applying an adhesive material to said groove, means for supporting said blanks on one side onlyof said groove and means for simultaneously heating said blanks along said groove 'whereby the blanks bend to close the groove.

23. An. apparatus for forming building siding angular corner pieces from fiat sheet blanks of impregnated fibrous stock grit coated on one flat face, which comprises means for feeding individual blanks into a continuous ribbon of blanks with successive blanks in engagement, driving means for moving said ribbon of blanks continuously through the apparatus, means for cutting a V-shaped groove in one hat surface of said blanks, coating mechanism for applying fluid thermoplastic material to both lateral edges of the blanks in said ribbon, a rotatable disk disposed immediately below and with its axis to one side of the path of travel of said blanks, means for rotating said disk with its edge adjacent the blanks traveling in the same direction as the blanks, means for feeding loose granular grit to the upper surface of said disk, rollers for engaging said blanks for embedding and leveling grit applied thereto from said disk, coating means for applying a thermoplastic material to said V-snaped groove, means for supporting said blanks on one side only of said groove and means for simultaneously heating said blanks along said groove whereby the blanks bend to close the groove and unite the surfaces of the groove by said thermoplastic material therein, and means for holding said blanks in bent condition until they have cooled.

24. An apparatus for forming building siding angular corner pieces from flat rectangular sheet blanks of impregnated fibrous stock shiplapped on opposite edges and coated on one flat face with granular grit, which comprises a magazine for holding a stock of such flat sheet blanks, a reciprocating feeder carriage for feeding individual blanks grit-coated face upward from said magazine into a continuous ribbon of blanks with successive blanks inter-engaged at their shiplapped edges, driving means for moving said ribbon of inter-engaged blanks continuously through the apparatus, a pair of rotary slitting disks positioned for cutting a V-shaped groove in the uncoated flat faceof said blanks, coating mechanism for applying iiuid thermoplastic material to both lateral edges of the blanks in said ribbon,

mechanism for applying granular grit to said coated lateral edges while said ribbon remains in continuous motion, rollers engaging the lateral edges and the nat faces of said traveling ribbon for embedding and leveling said grit, means for applying a thermoplastic material to said V-shaped groove, means for heating said blanks adjacent said groove and a pair of belts having opposed horizontal nights traveling with said ribbon and engaging the opposite flat faces of the blanks on one side only of said groove, whereby the other side of the blanks sags to bend the blanks into angular shape and to close the groove,

25. An apparatus for forming building siding angular corner pieces from fiat rectangular sheet blanks of impregnated fibrous stock shiplapped on opposite edges and coated on one flat face with granular grit, which comprises a magazine for holding a stock of such :dat sheet blanks, a reciprocating feeder carriage for feeding individual blanks grit-coated face upward from said magazine mi a wnunuom ribbon or blanks with v successive blanks inter-engaged at their shiplapped edges, driving means for moving said rib- ,bon ot blanks continuously through the amm-iA ratus, a pair of rotary slitting disks positioned "5- ior `cutting a V-shaped groove in the uncoated dat tace of said blanks, coating mechanism for applying iluid bituminous material to both lateral edges of the blanks in said ribbon, mechanism for applying granular grit to said coated lateral edges 10 while said ribbon remains in continuous motion, rollers engaging the lateral edges and the hat .faces of said traveling ribbon for embedding and leveling said grit, means for applying a bituminous material to said V-shaped groove, means 13 for heating said blanks adjacent said groovera pair of belts having opposed ilights traveling with said ribbon and engaging the opposite at faces of the blanks on one side only of said groove, whereby the other side of the blanks sags go to bend the blanks into vangular shape and to close the groove and adhesively unite the surfaces of the groove by said bituminous material, and means for holding said bent blanks in bent condition with the groove closed until they have cooled.

WILLIAM R. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CXTED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

